Atmosphere Biography

Atmosphere is an American hip-hop group from Minneapolis, Minnesota. The members are rapper Slug (Sean Daley) and DJ/producer Ant (Anthony Davis). Active in various forms since 1993, Atmosphere is one of the most commercially successful and long-lived independent hip hop groups. With the exception of a few tracks on the album “Lucy Ford,” Ant has produced every Atmosphere record. Former member and co-founder Spawn (Derek Turner, now going by the name “Rek The Heavyweight”) left the group after the release of the group's first album, “Overcast!”

Their debut album, “Overcast!” was released in 1997 on Rhymesayers Entertainment. The single “Scapegoat” received attention on college radio stations.

“God Loves Ugly” followed in 2002 on Rhymesayers Entertainment/Fat Beats Records. The single, “Modern Man's Hustle,” was released on 12” vinyl and reached #18 on the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks chart.

In 2003 “Seven's Travels” was released, their first for Epitaph Records. “Trying to Find a Balance” and “National Disgrace” were released as singles. The album went to #83 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart, their first entry on the chart.

“You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having” was released in 2005 through Rhymesayers Entertainment. It went to #1 on the Billboard Independent Albums chart, while reaching #66 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart.

Their 2008 album, “When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold” was released on Rhymesayers Entertainment. The album went to #5 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart making it their first album to reach the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 and the highest charting release from the independent label Rhymesayers. The album also went to #2 on the Independent Albums chart.

In 2011 they released “The Family Sign” which debuted at #13 on the Billboard 200. “The Family Sign” featured keyboardist Erick Anderson and guitarist Nate Collis in addition to the usual contributions from Slug and Ant.